Barcelona already facing first problem of the summer as Deco sets deadline

Originally posted on Football Espana | By Ruairidh Barlow | Last updated 5/14/24

Barcelona will have to make sales this summer, it’s a line that has been repeated often all season, but now that the summer is just weeks away, the reality of the situation is less simple than that.

Sporting Director Deco has set a deadline of the beginning of the Euros to make a major sale to bolster the club accounts. He sees the income as crucial to allow them to go after a pivot in midfield and a left winger, with Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich and Athletic Club’s Nico Williams cited as their preferences according to Sport.

However first the sale must arrive. There are four players that financially would benefit the Blaugrana significantly from a sale, Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. The Uruguayan is the only one that has left the door open to a move, with interest from Manchester United, while Bayern Munich also held talks with him in January.

Barça want to make a big sale of around 100 million euros before the EUROs. Araújo is a big candidate to leave. With the money, the sports area want to sign Kimmich and Nico Williams. @sport

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) May 14, 2024

They are yet to receive any offers though, and with that deadline just a month away, there is no certainty that they will get the €80-100m they desire for Araujo.

It looks like it could be an issue for Barcelona. Bayern have not yet reignited their interest, and there is uncertainty over who will be the next manager, while their priorities will be contract talks with Leroy Sane, Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies.

Meanwhile Manchester United are similarly dealing with uncertainty beyond the end of the season regarding Erik ten Hag. It seems they are yet to put together a strategy, and the chances of them putting €80m in the next few weeks seems unlikely.

If Barcelona cannot do a large deal by the Euros, they will have just two weeks until the end of the accounting year at the club, which will define their budgets and impact their salary limit. The lack of that sale could be fatal for any hope they have of strengthening this summer.

The post Barcelona already facing first problem of the summer as Deco sets deadline appeared first on Football España.

This article first appeared on Football Espana and was syndicated with permission.

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